Spool bracket



3%.. m. smmzcm "El in SPOOL BRACKET Filed Oct. 1]., 1933 Patented Jan. 16, 1940 sPooL BRACKET Gene .Strocco and Paul Gusmarino,

NewYork, N. Y.

Application October 1 1 1938, Serial No. 234,347, 8 Glaims. (Cl. 242--1r'i5) This inventionrelates to spool brackets, and more particularly to devices of this character adapted to releasably support spools in such manner as to permit predetermined. lengths of thread to be readily severed therefrom.

Cognizance is taken of certain other devices containing mounting means provided with thread cutting implements; but most of; these have not enjoyed wide commercial use because of certain inherent shortcomings, including among others the tendency of the spool to rotate during the act of severingthe thread, thereby requiring a special eif ort or additionalmanual manipulation to hold the spool stationary during the thread severing operation. It is hence primarily within the contemplation of our invention to eliminate. this shortcoming in a device of said class by providing a spool mounting of such construction as toenable the force applied to the thread during the. cutting operation to be simultaneously effective in holding the spool against rotation.

It is also anobject of this invention to enable a spool supported in a device ofthis category to.

be readily rotatedwhereby athread of anypledetermined. length can be withdrawn for the severing operation.

It is further within the contemplation of this invention to provide, in one form thereof, a spool bracket with means for holding the thread a ainst unravelling by irictionally gripping the loose end thereof.

Still a further object of our invention is. the provision of a form of bracket adapted for quick and ready attachment to any suitable. support, andwhereby a number of such brackets may be operatively secured to a wall or within a kit or.

box in proximate spaced relation so that spools of; different colored threads can be operatively mounted for ready and convenient selection.

It is also within the contemplation. of one. form of this invention to produce a bracket capable of. performing the aforesaid functions and embodying a structure consisting of a single unitary and readily fabricated element.

And a further object of our invention, in a' Figure l is a perspective view of a sewingkit ly mounted thereon in its normal position.

Figure 4 is a view substantially similar to Figure 3 showing the end of the thread in engagement with the cutter and the spool operatively locked against rotation.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of bracket constituting our invention showing combination thread holding and cutting means.

Figure 6 is a side view of still another modified form of our invention adapted to adjustably support spools of different sizes.

Figure '7 is a transverse section of Figure 6 taken along line l','l, and

Figure 8. is a side View of still another form of our invention substantially similar to the forms illustrated in'Figures 1 to l, except that the device 5 '1 consists of two separate supporting elements instead of a single continuous element.

In the drawing, the compact or kit Ill, adapted to contain therein various sewing implements, has mounted on the inside of the cover thereof the four brackets ll, l2, I3 and I4, rotatively supporting therein the spools I5, l6, ii and H3, respectively. In the preferred form of our invention, each one of the brackets is of substantially Ushaped configuration consisting of a connecting bar it. yieldably supporting at opposite extremities thereof the arms 20 and 2|. Substantially at the middle portions of said arms are the oppositely disposed preferably V-shaped indentures 22 and 23, respectively, these serving as axial rotatable supports for the spool iii illustrated by dash lines. The free terminal edges of the preferably resilient arms 2!) and 2| contain the bent portions 2 4 and 25, respectively, these being, in the preferred form illustrated, in substantial parallel relation. The upper portion 2 1', serving as a thread guiding element, contains therein the apertured portion 22b communicating with the lateral edge of the arm via the slit Zl',- the aperturethereof being adapted to slidably receive therethrough the thread 23. of spool 5,- it being obvious that said thread is brought into the said aperture by slidably moving it through the slit 2?. The lower bent portion 25. serves as at L).

' device can be driven into and supported by any a cutting element and contains therein a cutting edge or blade 29.

In the arrangement illustrated, the connecting member I9 is vertically disposed, whereby the arm 20 carrying the guiding element 24 is disposed at the top of the device, and the arm 2| carrying the cutting element at the bottom thereof. It is of course understood, however, that the device may be supported in any other position with equal effectiveness. The form illustrated also shows the connecting member l9 provided with two rearwardly disposed prong elements and 3| having sharp edges whereby the suitable wall 32. Our invention however is not limited to the specific securing means 30 and 3| described, as independent fasteners can be employed for effectively securing the bracket in place, all within the scope of the appended claims.

It will be observed that the structure above described is composed of a single narrow strip of metal, preferably of some resiliency, and can be readily stamped and fabricated into the desired form by conventional manufacturing processes. Hence in this form of our invention no assembling operations are required other than the mere attachment of the formed strip upon the supporting wall.

In the operation of this device, a spool such as 16 is slipped into place with the indentured portions 22 and 23 of the arms 2E and 2! inserted within the central opening of the spoolthis operation being effectuated due to the resiliency of said arms. The relative dimensional proportions of the said indentures and the central hole of the spool are such as to permit the spool to be rotatably actuated upon the withdrawal of the thread 28, and at the same time prevent the spool from being displaced from its rotatable mounting. It is also preferred that the upper arm 20 be slightly spaced from the top flange 33 of the spool, so as not to resist anyrotational effort applied thereto.

Should it now be desired to sever a predetermined length of the thread, so much of it is withdrawn as desired, this being accomplished by a pull in the general direction of the arrow (Figure 3). The thread is then pulled downwardly in the direction of the arrow (Figure 4) for engagement with the cutting edge 29. When applying this force, the upper resilient arm 20 is pulled downwardly until it is brought into contact with the top surface of flange 33, in thisv manner providing suflicient frictional resistance to prevent the spool it from rotating, And when the actual cutting takes place, the portion of the thread between the guiding and cutting elements at 24 and 25 is'in a state of tension, urging'both arms 20 and 2! towards each other to effect a more secure stopping action against the spool. It is thus apparent that simultaneously with the operation of severing the thread, the spool is held locked against further rotation.

It should be noted that the guiding aperture 26 and cutter 29 are in substantial vertical alignment, whereby thread 28 will be vertically disposed and the desired control of the cutting operation quite readily effected. It is also preferred that the guiding element 24 be bent towards arm 2| as illustrated, so as to bring it as close as possible to the spool for operatively receiving the thread therefrom; and it is likewise preferred that the cutting portion 25, in the form illustrated, be bent away from arm 20, so that it will be completely out of the path of any of the thread being unravelled.

In the form of our invention illustrated in Figure 5, the bracket contains a connecting member 34 and arms 35 and 36, respectively, similar in general construction to the corresponding parts above described' However, instead of the downwardly extending cutting element 25, there is a short upwardly extending portion 3'! containing a pressed out tongue 38 provided with a suitable cutting edge. With this construction, the thread 40 from aperture 39 can be brought down to the tongue 38 and slipped thereunder between the inner wall of the tongue and the adjacent wall of the upstanding portion 3'! to frictionally hold the thread in place. Should it be desired to sever the thread, all that need be done is to apply sufiicient pull upon the end portion 41 extending therefrom, whereby the thread will be severed at the knife edge of the tongue 28 and frictionally retained in place. In this manher not only does this simple unitary bracket permit the functions of the first described form of our invention to be eifectuated, but in addition thereto serves to hold the terminal portion of the thread in place and prevent a loose dangling thereof.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 6 and '7, the resilient arms 42 and 43 and the respective indentures' 44 and 45 thereon are similar to the corresponding parts hereinabove described. Also, the portion 4-5 is similar to the guiding member 24 above described, and the upstanding member 41 is similar to the corresponding member 31 illustrated in Figure 5. But instead of forming the bracket out of a single piece, two members are employed, the upper arm 42 containing a looped slide member 48, and the lower arm 43 containing a bar 49 which is embraced by the member 48 and in slidable engagement therewith. The said bar 49 is preferably provided with an extending portion containing a return bend therein and disposed in spaced parallel relation to the bar 49 thereby providing a supporting portion 50 containing the prongs 5| and 52 adapted for attachment to any suitable supporting wall in the manner aforesaid.

With the construction of this modified form of our invention, it is obvious that the arm 42 can be slidably moved along bar 49, so as to enable spools of different lengths to be operatively accommodated between said arms, within the dimensional limitations of bar 49. In other respects, the operation of this form of our invention is similar to that of the forms hereinabove described.

The form of our invention illustrated in Figure 8 is substantially similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 4, as aforesaid. Instead, however, of forming the device of a single strip of resilient material as hereinabove shown, the arms 53 and 54 are separately mounted by means of the brackets 55 and 56, respectively, to any suitable wall. In this manner it is obvious that said arms can be mounted in proper relative positions and so spaced as to accommodate any desired size of spool. It will also be observed that the free terminal portions 5'! and 58, respectively, are inclined upwardly, so that the cutting means at 51 is at the top and the guiding means at 58 at the bottoman arrangement which may also be employed in any of the forms hereinabove described if so desired. In all other respects this form of, our invention is similar to those hereinabove referred to.

It is of course understood that the structures above described and shown in the drawing are illustrative of our invention and not employed by way of limitation inasmuch as numerous changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What we claim isz 1. In a spool bracket, two yieldably mountedthe thread extending from said apertured portion, said arms being movable towards each other by the pull of the thread when in operative said cutting edge. i 2. In a spool bracket, the combination ac' cording to claim 1, the tree terminal portions of said arms being bent out of the plane of the arms.

3. A spool bracket comprising a continuous strip of resilient material bent into substantial U-shaped formation with two forwardly extending parallel arms and a connecting portion, the arms containing oppositely disposed indentures adapted to extend into the central aperture of a spool of thread operatively positioned between said arms whereby the spool will be rotatably supported thereby, the free terminals of both of said arms being bent out of the plane thereof, one of said free terminals containing guiding means for slidably engaging the thread extendi ing from the spool while being withdrawn therefrom, the other of said free terminals containing cutting means for severing the thread extending from the guiding means, and securing means extending rearwardly from the said connecting portion for attachment to a suitable support, said arms being yieldably engageable with the said spool to frictionally hold it against rotation by the pull of the thread when in operative engagement with said guiding and said cutting means.

l. A spool bracket according to claim 3, the

bent terminal portions of the said arms being in substantially parallel relation, the terminal containing theguiding means being bent in the general direction of the opposite arm, and the terminal containing the cutting means being bent away from the oppositely disposed arm, whereby the guiding means will be in a position to con veniently receive the thread from the spool, and

the cutting means will at all times be out of tlonally holding an operatively supported spool against rotation, guiding means connected with said stop means for slidably engaging the thread extending from the spool while being withdrawn therefrom, and cutting means remote from said guiding means for severing the thread extending therefrom, said stop means being movable into engagement with the adjacent flange of the spool to frictionally hold the spool against rotation by the pull of the thread operatively exerted upon the guiding means, the said supporting means for rotatably supporting the spool comprising two spaced arms, one containing the said stop and guiding means, and the other the said cutting means, further provided with adjustable mounting means for said arms whereby the distance therebetween may be varied to enable the bracket to operatively accommodate spools of different sizes.

7. In aspool bracket, means for rotatably supporting a spool, movable stop means for frictionally holding an operatively supported spool against rotation, guiding means connected with said stop means for slidably engaging the thread extending from the spool while being withdrawn therefrom, and cutting means remote from said guiding means for severing the thread extending therefrom, said stop means being movable into engagement with the adjacent flange of the spool to frictionally hold the spool against rotation by the pull of the thread operatively exerted upon the guiding means, the said supporting means for rotatably supporting the spool comprising two spaced arms, one containing the said stopand guiding means, and the other the said cutting means, further provided with adjustable mounting means for said arms whereby the distance therebetween may be varied to enable the bracket to operatively accommodate spools of different sizes, the said adjustable mounting means comprising a supporting bar connected to one of said arms and adapted for attachment to a suitable wall, and a slide element connected to the other of said arms and in slidable engagement with said bar.

8. In a spool bracket, means for rotatably supvporting a spool, movable stop means for frictionally holding an operatively supported spool against rotation, guiding means connected with said stop means for slidably engaging the thread extending from the spool while being withdrawn therefrom, and cutting means remote from said guiding means for severing the thread extending therefrom, said stop means being movable into engagement with the adjacent flange of the spool to frictionally hold the spool against rotation by the pull of the thread operatively exerted upon the guiding means, said supporting means for rotatably supporting the spool comprising two.

spaced arms, one containing the said stop and guiding means, and the other the said cutting means, and separate mounting means for said arms whereby they may be independently secured to a suitable supporting wall in proper cooperative positions and in any selected spaced relation for accommodiating a spool of any desired height.

' GENE STROCCO.

PAUL GUSMARINO. 

